Sheep-shearing stock.



Mam,

lNVENT'OR:

By his Attorneys.

Patented Feb. 27', I900,

flaw

P ANDERSON SHEEP SHEABING STOCKS.

(Apphcatlon filed Nov 1 1898) (Na Model) WllgiSSES:

UNITED STATES PATENT Eric.

Tl-IILANDER ANDERSON, on NEW YORK, N. Y.

SHEEP-SHEARING sTocK.

srEoIFIcA'rIo'N fbrmiiig part of Letters Patent No. 644,313, dated February at, 1960. Application fil d November 1.18%. Serial No. 695,218. (No model.)

T to whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PHILANDER ANDERSON, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sheep-Shearing Stocks and the Like, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to stocks, racks, or holders for animals, and is especially applicable as a holder for sheep during shearing.

Heretofore various apparatus. for holding animals have been employed in which the anihead fastened by straps or the like in suchmanner that it could be shifted to expose one side or the other, as required, for the shearing or other operation to be performed on the animal. Such devices generally comprise a stationary table and two swinging side wings, from one to the other of which the sheep may be transferred. The positions occupied by the sheep, either a vertical or an inverted position, are neither natural nor comfortable nor the best position for the shearing operation, and the fastening of the legs is troublesome and interferes with the shearing.

My invention aims to provide a holder in which the animal need not be fastened, in which he will occupy a natural position, or approximating it, with his backup and exposed, and in which he can be easily changed from one position to another as desired. To this end in carrying out the preferred form of myimprovements I construct the holder, comprising two carrying-tables, which are preferably swinging wings, on which the animal is laid, and an intermediate space traversed by a member, preferably a movable or rotative cylinder, astride of which the animals legs are passed, so that they project downwardly through the space, and on which the under side of the animals body rests as it is being transferred from one table to the other, and I provide certain other features of improvement, which will be hereinafter fully set forth.

With my improved apparatus the animal can be raised and placed with his fore and hind legs astride the cylinder by simply dropping him thereon,whereupon his legs are separated and depending in space, so that he is helpless to effect any movement other than futile kicking. Then his body can be turned to one side or the other onto either wing,.as desired. His legs, being separated and projecting into space, are powerless to effect any movement of the body, and hence need no fastening and can be grasped and moved at will during the shearing operation. To remove the animal, he is simply lifted off the central member and placed on the ground.

In the accompanying drawings, which show certain adaptations of my invention as employed for a sheep-shearing stock, Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective View of a stock, the slats being omitted from one Wing, which is in elevated position, and the sheep being shown in dotted lines on the other wing, which is in the position of extreme depression. Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the holder, the sheep being shown in dotted lines on one of the win sand Fi 3 is a fra mentar View showing a modification.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, I will describe the preferred form of my invention as therein shown. Let A indicate a frame or standard; B, bearing-posts thereon; C, a central member or cylinder carried by these posts; E, wings or carriers at side of this member; D, a shaft carrying the cylinder and wings from the posts B, and F means for adjusting and holding the wings.

The frame A may be any suitable device for sustaining the parts, that shown being adapted for a portable stock, and consisting of longitudinal beams G, transverse beams H, legs I, rigidly fastened together, and the bearings or posts B, projecting upwardly from the beams H to the desired height. The frame shown is constructed of wood, with the exception of the posts, which are of cast metal. The member 0 may be of any character or construction capable of separating the legs of the animal or of supporting its weight; but it is preferably constructed as a rotative cylinder, that shown being a hollow tin cylinder mounted axially on the shaft D and free to rotate therewith. For a sheep-holder this cylinder may advantageously be of about six inches in diameter and suficiently long to exceed the length of the body of the animal used on the holder. At its ends the cylinder is closed in the construction shown by wooden heads a, by which it is connected to the shaft. The

member 0 should be disposed at sufficient height to leave beneath it a depth of space greater than the downward projection of the animals legs when the latter is placed astridethe member and should be so constructed that the animal will not be injured or rendered uncomfortable when supported by the cylinder.

The members for carrying the animal as it is laid 011 one side or the other may be any character of table or support disposed at side of and substantially parallel with the member O in such manner that there shall be suitable space for the passage of the legs of the animal at sides of the member 0 and for the movement of the legs around the latter as the animal is shifted from one side to the other of the member 0. These side supports are preferably both vertically-swingin g tables or wings similarly disposed at the opposite sides of the central member and, as shown, swinging on the same axis therewith, having their inner edges adjacent to the member 0 separated therefrom sufficiently to leave legspaces J at each side of the member 0. Preferably each member E is constructed of a U- shaped piece of angle-iron K, having longitudinal part L at its middle and lateral arms M, which arms at their ends are perforated and pass over the shaft D. At these ends the horizontal wing of the an gle-iron is cut away, and its edge constitutes a stop 0, which embraces a face I) of the post 13 to limit the downward movement of the wing. On each wing is a suitable covering for carrying the body of the animal. I prefer to use inner slats N and outer slats O, the latter consisting of a fiat board and an edgewise board and engaging the body of the sheep near the back, while the inner slat engages the body toward the under side.

I prefer to construct the holder so that the head and neck of the animal can project beyond the end of the central member, and therefore I construct the wings or side carriers with extensions P, best formed by projecting the end of the slats N and 0 beyond the iron frames K, on which extension the head of the animal lies, the neck being opposite the ad:

jacent post B.

When the wings E are adjustable, any suitable means for holding them in the several positions can be used. I prefer to employ the device F shown, which consists of a notched and bent rod Q, hinged to each wing and depended downwardly through a bracket R, fastened to the under side of the side beams G in each instance, and forced by a spring S toward a tooth e, which may engage any one of the notches of the bar, according to the height at which the ring is to be maintained. By grasping the bar and moving it outwardly against the spring its notches can be drawn away from the tooth, and it can be raised or lowered.

In operation the sheep will be placed astride the middle member and then laid sidewise on one of the side members, which will be adjusted to hold the sheep in the position for the shearing operation. The other member will be moved to the position most convenient for the shearer, and when one member is sustaining the sheep the inner edge or slat of the other if completely lowered will bear against the outer sides of the animals legs, preventing their outward escape. Having sheared one side of the sheep and its back and legs when uppermost, the operator will transfer the sheep to the upper wing either by grasp ing it and swinging it bodily over on the middie member or by bringing up the Wings until itis clasped between them and then lowering the wing, with the sheep on it, and removing the other wing to give access to the other side for shearing. When sheared, the sheep can be lifted off and another deposited on the stock.

It will be seen that my invention provides an improved stock simple and convenient of construction and operation with which access can be had to all parts of the body of the animal, and the latter can be manipulated easily and will not be subjected to undue discomfort.

It will be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the particular details of construction and arrangement set forth as its preferred form, nor to the particu lar use described, nor to aportable apparatus,- since it can be availed of according to such modifications or adaptations as circumstances or the judgment of those skilled in the art indicate without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the modification shown in Fig. 3 the hear ing B is notched and the wings E are locked in position by the bolts F engaging these notches.

What I claim is-- 1. In animahstocks and the like, side carriers for supporting the side of an animal, and an intermediate body-carrier for engaging the body of the animal between its legs, said carriers having between them spaces through which the legs of the animal may project, and within which the legs can move as the animal is rolled across said intermediate carrier from one to the other of said side carriers.

2. In animal-stocks and the like, a central carrier passing between the legs of the animal and adapted to engage its body between its legs, and side carriers at the respective sides of said central carrier, separated therefrom sufliciently to give room for the animals legs between the side and central carriers, and vertically adjustable around the latter.

3. In animal-stocks and the like, the combination with two side carriers on which the animal can be laid, spaced apart and adapted to receive the animals legs between them, of a central carrier between said side carriers passing between the animals legs and having ITO a cylindrical form, and supporting the under side of the animals body as it is turned from one side carrier to the other.

4. In animal-stocks and the like, two side carriers in combination with a central carrier between them, rotative, and adapted to pass between the legs of the animal, and engaging the under side of its body as it is turned from one to the other side carrier.

5. In animal-stocks and the like, a central member and two side wings, said member and wings having le -spaces between them, and adjustable holders for said wings, said wings adapted to hold the animal downward and the under side of its body toward said central Witnesses:

GEORGE H. FRASER, THOMAS F. WALLACE. 

